About Us and FAQ

General Information

The objectives of the Science-Technology Division shall be to draw together members having an interest in the role of library and information science as applied to the recording, retrieval, and dissemination of information in all areas of science and technology and to promote and improve the communication, dissemination, and use of such information to the benefit of libraries and their users.

To provide information, training, and tools to science and technology information professionals to develop the skills and knowledge they need to grow and excel. The Division functions as an international community that supports the professional development of its members through communication, networking, education, and research.

When did the Division form?

The Science-Technology Division of SLA was formed in 1923 under the name of the Technology Group. The first meeting was held during the 1924 annual conference. The Group was recognized officially in March 1925. Renamed Science-Technology Division in 1950.

What are the positions in the Executive Board and what is the function of the Board?

The Executive Board manages the Division’s property and regulates and governs its affairs.

Chair —Chief Executive Officer of Division, responsible for supervision and control of Division affairs

What committees and other positions does the Division have, and what do they do?

ALA/ACRL Science & Technology Section Liaison —Promotes communication and coordination of topics of mutual concern between the Division and ACRL/STS (Association of College & Research Libraries/Science and Technology Section).

Vendor Relations Committee —cultivates relationships with potential vendor sponsors in order to obtain funding to support Division activities, such as conference programming.

What publications does the Division produce?

1) A newsletter, Sci-Tech News, is the official publication of the Division. It debuted as Ye Alchemical Libraries Almanack : being the bulletin of the Science-Technology Group with Lucy O. Lawton as editor in September 1947. It changed its name to SCI-TECH NEWS : the official bulletin of the Science-Technology Group in 1949.

2) The Division also has an open community within SLA Connect. The purpose of the Sci-Tech community is to promote communication among the members of the Science-Technology Division of SLA and other interested parties via an unmoderated community. It should help special librarians everywhere advance their role as information professionals in their respective institutions.Topics of posts to the list include information about the division and its activities, conference information and opportunities, resource sharing, reference questions, job announcements, reviewer or publishing opportunities, announcements about member publications, course and professional development opportunity announcements, research surveys, and sci-tech library-related news.If you are a Sci-Tech Division member, you should already have access to the community from within the Connect platform. You can head to http://connect.sla.org, and login to your SLA account to see it.

What awards are given by the Division?

There are awards for travel, international librarians, professional development, achievement, and other forms of recognition of contributions to the Division.

TheAchievement awardrecognizes professional work marked by distinction & dedication to sci-tech librarianship. Ellis Mount received the first Achievement Award in 1984; Jean K. Martin received it in 1987; Robert M. Ballard received it in 1990.

TheImpossible Award, given in recognition of work that made the impossible possible, was first awarded to Cathy Williamson in 1990; followed by Wilda Newman in 1991, Ellis Mount in 1992, Sandy Moltz in 1996, and Ann Koopman and Bonnie Osif in 2004.

TheInternational Librarian Awards, given to help third world librarians attend conference, were first presented to Christina Santos Labourdette, Elena Reyes Varela, and America Santos (latter could not attend conference) in 1995.

TheProfessional Development Award, given to help unemployed librarians attend conference, was first presented to Cathy Williamson in 1995.

Additional awards: Jim Olsen and Carmela Carbone were given Appreciation Awards in 1991. Joanna Tallman was awarded $1000 for her revision of the Handbook of Scientific and Technical Awards in the United States and Canada in 1978. Ellis Mount awarded $300 to support work on the history of the Engineering Societies Library in 1978. Ellis Mount was named Editor Emeritus of the Sci-Tech News in 2004.